Septenary: a line of seven beats, usually more or less iambic in movement. Often divided by rhyme or on the page into two lines, one of four beats and one of three (followed by a silent beat – see isoictic), it is the
common metreof ballads and hymns:
The King | sat in | Dumferm|line TownDrinking | the blood-|red wine:“O where | will I find | a skee|ly ski|pperTo sail | this new ship | o’mine?”
The King | sat in | Dumferm|line TownDrinking | the blood-|red wine:“O where | will I find | a skee|ly ski|pperTo sail | this new ship | o’mine?”
Anon, “The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens”
Anon, “The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens”
There is | a green | hill far | away,Without | a ci|ty wall,Where our | dear Lord | was cru|cified,Who died | to save | us all.
…
116 words
Citation: Groves, Peter Lewis. "Septenary". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 04 June 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=5528, accessed 04 December 2024.]